CHENNAI: It has finally launched when it matters. The Indian top orderer’s performances have left a lot to be desired so far, and he showed great batting prowess against Zimbabwe Pacers at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday. There must be a sense of relief in the camp as West Indies are about to take on the Eden Gardens on Sunday.First, Abhishek Sharma started the match with an opening partnership of Sanju Samson’s 48 off 22 balls which set the tone for a total of 256 for 4. Abhishek Sharma scored a strike rate of 183.3 during his 30-ball 55, but he seems to have reduced his recklessness. The southpaw has one of the best swings in the business, so he doesn’t always need to try to generate extra power. On Thursday, he focused more on timing the ball than fighting for power and hitting the ball straighter, which made running scores look easy and relatively risk-free.
Explaining his unhurried approach, the southpaw said: “I just wanted to spend some time on the field. I haven’t batted 10-12 balls so far. I want to thank my team; they support me and remind me that my time is coming,” Abhishek said.While Abhishek’s run-scoring performance ahead of the must-win West Indies game was a good sign, Sanju’s 24-run cameo was also praised. Firstly, the left-right combination was a welcome change, with Zimbabwe unable to use their off-spinners at the start of the powerplay. Tilak Varma, who had to be dropped to sixth as Ishan Kishan took his place at No. 3, feels Sanju’s innings is very important for the resurgence of Indian batting.“It’s important that the opener gets off to a good start; when that happens, Nos. 3, 4 and 5 can go out with confidence. Three weeks today did a great job and the others followed suit,” said the left-hander.Tilak spoke about how batsmen changed their game before the game and that made a difference. The 23-year-old said it was coach Gautam Gambhir who sat down with the batsmen and told them to go into the match with the mentality that has helped them perform so well in T20Is over the past year and a half.“We want to put fear into the opponents; we want them to realize that we are coming for them even if we lose a wicket… Gautam sir reminds us of the brand of cricket we played against New Zealand and South Africa last year before the World Cup. So no matter what the situation is, our plan as individuals is to go out there, smile and enjoy the game,” Tilak said.No. 6 is a position where Tilak has not batted much in recent times. He always enjoyed some time in the middle, but after a lackluster performance at third, the team wanted him to take on a closer role. What’s more, after the death of his father, Rinku Singh looks unlikely to play the remainder of the tournament. Tilak said he didn’t mind at all because “it’s all for the team’s cause.”“I have played this role a few times for India and Mumbai Indians. So, I was ready. This game was about adjusting to the situation…I was just waiting for a good innings and it came at the right time. I was very confident going forward that I could win the game for the team,” Tilak said of his 16-ball 44.Another player who bats well is Hardik Pandya. His 23-ball fifty and economical three-wicket haul earned him the Man of the Match award.“I had to re-evaluate my style this innings. Initially, I was trying to hit the ball too hard. Then I realized I could control the timing of the ball and did it. Now it’s a matter of maintaining our skills and giving our best,” Pandya said.
